Try Me (18+)

Thirty One

A Taste of Freedom 

"Ezra." 

She groaned, turning away from the sound of her name being called. She snuggled further into the pillow. 

"Ezra, baby, wake up. You've got lab in like an hour."

"Let me sleep." Ezra whined, pushing her boyfriend's face away. He laughed before effortlessly picking her up from the bed and carrying her towards the bathroom, placing her on the closed toilet seat. He grabbed her toothbrush and gave it to her. She pouted as she began lazily brushing her teeth. 

"I can't have lunch with you today after class. I've got an appointment."

"What?" Ezra exclaimed with a mouth full of toothpaste. "We always have lunch together, who am I supposed to eat with now?" 

Nathan laughed as Ezra stood behind him, placing her head on his back as she wrapped her arms around his waist. 

"Stay with me?" She begged playfully although there was a hint of seriousness in her eyes. 

"You've got Ian. You've also got your other friends Yuna and Mia." He turned around so that they were now facing each other. "Besides, I really have to go to this appointment." He kissed her on the forehead before leaving the bathroom to change out of his pyjama pants and into his scrubs. 

"What appointment though?" Ezra questioned, quick to rinse her mouth and rush after him. 

Nathan paused, staring down at the shoes he was now tying before looking up at her with a small smile, a false smile invisible to Ezra's perception. "Family stuff, we can talk about it later baby. I'll  go make you some food real quick while you change. I love you." 

"I love you too." Ezra mumbled, falling back on the bed. 

"Don't fall asleep again, you'll be late!" He yelled as he left the room but it was too late, Ezra's eyes had already fluttered to a close.

"Ezra? Ezra! Ezra!" 

She shot up in bed, turning to the sound of the voice expecting to see Nathan standing there. And there was indeed an odd version of him standing there. It- wasn't actually him, Noah stood there instead, their likeliness uncanny as always. 

"Are you alright? You're sweating." Noah placed a hand on her forehead and frowned, trying to assess if she had a fever. She swatted his hand away as she climbed out of the bed. 

"I'm fine. " She looked back at the unmade bed with a frown. Did Yong sleep here? She had no recollection of him leaving after she broke down in his arms. Her face went red at the memory and she groaned. She couldn't believe that of all people who could have seen her at her most saw vulnerable, it had to be Yong. The person who was the cause of all this. But, she would be a liar if she didn't admit that his company was oddly.. comforting. As he held her in that moment, it truly felt like he was sharing her pain, that he understood her. She could almost feel his remorse through his touch. 

"Where's Yong?" She asked and Noah gave her a small smile. 

"Get dressed, he wants to see you." 

***

She felt her body move as the car shook crossing the gravel beneath them, she snuck a quick glance towards Yong who was sat beside her, an empty seat separating them, with his eyes closed and his face set in a grimace, as if every jolt of the car sent a wave of pain through his body. Noah was in the driver's seat, sending her a small smile everytime they caught each other's eye in the rearview mirror and Rose was in the passenger seat. She didn't know what exactly was going on or where she was being taken to but she had a feeling it was good thing. Noah had been looking at her weirdly all morning, an affectionate smile on his face as if he seemed excited for her. She wasn't naive enough to believe Yong was finally going to let her go but she believed he was about to reward her in some way.